Deputy should find time for serious debate

I should also like to point out that her website, wwww.dudleyowen.gg, bears the text ‘Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen – A True People’s Deputy’.

I would like to know if she will listen to the people, 87% of whom support assisted dying, or if she will be amending the text on her website so that it more accurately reflects her position.

DOUGLAS WILSON

ADDRESS WITHHELD

Editor’s Footnote:

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen replies:

It is very disappointing that the Guernsey Press headline which accompanied my recent comments about the forthcoming debate on doctor-assisted suicide was so inaccurate and did not reflect what I actually had said. I stand by my comments, which do not mention my personal workload or anything about being too busy. They are specific to the work of the States as a whole. I can give the author and the community my complete assurance that I am giving this subject due attention.

Nonetheless, the author of the letter in responding to the headline has presented me with an opportunity to make my comments again here. This was the quote that I gave:

‘With so many complex issues surrounding this topic: emotional, cultural, legal, perception and reputation, why are we being forced to look at this matter against a backdrop of some very big and challenging items facing our island? We are dealing with Brexit, transport links, the economy and education. Major work-streams are still outstanding, such as SWIBIC and Disability and there is no extra money or extra people to help complete these matters. With the lack of community engagement, we also have no idea whether the community in any real numbers want us to spend public money and effort looking at changing the law. The requerents have done nothing to engage with the medical profession and nothing to assist deputies in the short time available before the debate, to inform them properly of the challenges facing the island if we decide to change our laws to make doctor-assisted suicide legal here in Guernsey.’

My biggest concern is the lack of community engagement about the subject, the lack of structured debate among islanders, the lack of technical knowledge being shared regarding the difficulties we will face if we change the law. The author asks if I will listen to the ‘87% of people’ in favour of doctor-assisted suicide? The author does not cite their source, so I cannot corroborate this figure, I do not know how many people this actually represents or anything about how this figure was arrived at. I am, though, always interested in hearing views on both sides of any debate.

I could not say whether there are more people for or against the principle with any real accuracy, but to date I have received far more emails and correspondence from those against doctor-assisted suicide than for. Many of those cite concerns about the practicalities of changing our law, setting out clear, reasoned arguments as to why Guernsey should not go down this path.

Having spoken at length to medical and legal professionals locally, they clearly think this matter is one of such great complexity, which has not been presented with anywhere near the depth of thought or preparation required in order to make a proper and informed judgement.

I strongly recommend that anyone supporting the principle of doctor-assisted suicide also thinks hard about our ability to implement a law here in Guernsey, which will put us in direct opposition to the legal position in the UK. A law which will also criminalise British subjects assisting with any suicide and leave them open to prosecution. In the case of a serious conflict of interest with the UK, as we would have in this situation, we will run the risk of having a constitutional crisis on our hands. With Brexit only one year away, I ask: is this really the best time to be pursuing this policy?

I believe that the States should only be concentrating on matters which are achievable and deliverable – I query whether this will ever be.